CHAPTER 19
Addler
Elena goes running around the kitchen island on tiptoe, holding the shirt together in a death grip. This whole situation would be funny, if it wasn’t for the fact I’m starting to feel the cold hard tile against my bare ass. Damn, it’s a good thing I switched our positions. She’d be in some pain if she’d taken a pounding against this floor.
Still, I can’t help but smile. I’m too goddamn pleased with what just happened. Pulling up my shorts, I haul my ass up and run a hand through my hair. The memory of kissing Elena while she’s running her fingers through it fills my mind.
I drag in a breath and go through the kitchen, searching for Ezequiel. If he’s here unannounced, it can’t be good.
Stepping out to the patio, I spy him staring out into the distance.
He looks over, seemingly unfazed by finding me with a half-naked woman stretched out on top of me. “Well, that was unexpected.”
I run my hand over my beard. “Didn’t exactly plan on it myself.” No, this was a far cry from planned. Never would’ve expected to end up on the kitchen floor with Elena Santos. Then again, Mayela’s always said her floor is clean enough to eat off of. There goes my grin again, and there’s not a goddamn thing I’d change about it.
“Wanted to check in with you,” Ezequiel says, grabbing my attention. “Something’s up.”
That’s enough to sober me in an instant. “What happened?” Out here, we’re on our own. Any county law would take hours to arrive. That’s longer than any danger would be willing to wait.
“Got some security vehicles running around out there.” He raises his chin, indicating the area he was staring at.
“You sure it’s them?” With all the oilfield traffic running through, it’s a miracle he’d be able to distinguish one from the other.
“It’s several vehicles running around. They’re kicking up enough caliche to show they’re speeding. Which means it has to be security.”
“They haven’t called in?”
“No.” He pushes the cowboy hat back.
“Not even Bill?” I would expect him to reach out if something grave’s going on.
“No.” He shakes his head.
The security coordinator I met the other day comes to mind. Is she the one who has everyone scrambling? And if so, why? “What about the security admin you ran around with?”
“I haven’t called her.” He pauses. “Figured I’d check with you first.”
Hmm. The delay in that statement makes me think something’s there. “Do you know anything about her?” I ask, opening the conversation in case there’s something he didn’t say the other night.
He frowns. “Her name keeps popping up every time something happens. Even when the old man was still here. She seems to have her nose in everything,” he says with a sign of disgust.
“Hrmph.” As much as he’d hate to admit it, she’s a lot like him in that sense. They both need to keep abreast of what’s going on at the ranch.
“Sage.” He curls his lip. “What the hell kind of name is that?”
I snort. “I said the same thing.” Could she know about what’s going on? I’m not sure I should even involve her. At least not until I know more. There are still areas on this ranch where they have no business poking their nose around. But it’s time I talk to Ezequiel about it. Something I should have done before.
“Kelly Oil has some shit going on.” I glance into the house in case Elena’s come down after putting clothes on. Not that I expect her to show up after how embarrassed she got when she realized we weren’t alone.
“Oh?” He raises an eyebrow.
“Derrick says they’ve got money missing they can’t account for. So far, everything leads back to South Texas. Specifically, the ranch, since it’s the newest acquisition.”
“Shit.”
“That’s why I showed up at the office early,” I explain. “If they have something to hide, they’ll have to do it before Monday.”
“Girl from the office.” Ezequiel’s gaze shoots to my wing of the house. “She tangled up in this?”